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Showing results for tags 'RAF Centenary'.
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In February 1978 I turned 13 years and 9 months. I remember that day, the 17th February, extremely well as it was at that exact age that I was allowed to join the Air Training Corps, or, perhaps more commonly known as, the ATC or the Air Cadets. My dream was always to join the Royal Air Force; I cannot ever remember wanting to do anything else other than to become a pilot and it was a natural first step for me to join the ATC. I started with 1039 (Gillingham) Squadron and became more and more convinced, if that was at all possible, that my future would be in an aircraft cockpit. One evening, in May 1978, we all sat down and were given a briefing by a Flight Lieutenant from the local RAF Careers Office. He had brought with him an RAF training film, which, we were told, was classified but he had been given permission to show it to us that evening. We were enthralled. Not only was he a 'real' RAF Officer, but he was going to share state secrets with us as well! The movie he showed us had an incredible influence on my 14 year old mind. The film was riveting, exciting and captured everything I felt at that time, for all I wanted to be was a Buccaneer pilot. Some of you of 'a certain age' may very well remember this movie. If you have not got the time to sit and watch all 30 minutes of it, then just go to 27:00 and watch the last three. I never did get to fly the Buccaneer, or anything else in the Royal Air Force for that matter, but that is another story.
